Ground-surfacing apparatus.



C. A. ROBINSON.

, GROUND SURFACING APPARATUS.

APrLlcAloN FILED APR. s, |915.

1,167,112. s 1 Patented .13114, 1916.'

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l l r l c. A. IIoBINsoN.

GROUND SURFACING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APN. e, I9I5.

1,167,112. 'y I p ,Patented Jan; 4f, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. A. ROBINSON.

GROUND SURFACING APPARATUS.

APPLlcATloN F| LED APR. 6, |915.

1,167,'112 y y Patented Jan. 4,:1916.

` 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 38 K55 INVENTOI? TTOH/VE Y CLJ ` is a vertical section, as on the line -5 of- CHARLES A. IIEtOBINISOlL-OE EAST ORANGE, NEW ERSEY.

GaoUND-sURrAcING APPARATUS;

j Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 4:, 1916,

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial No. 19,606.

leveling and smoothing large areas of ground; the same being especially, though not exclusively, designed for surfacing the grounds of ytennis courts.

lThe object ofmy invention is to provide j a simple, durable and efficient apparatus of the kind mentioned which can be operated with facility by one or two persons, and which can be readily adjusted to meet various requirements and conditions of service.

In Athe form of embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, 1 lemploy a substantial frame structurepwhich is supported on suitable rollers and is equipped with adjustable ground breaking, leveling and smoothing devices, the whole being so constructed and organized that the area of ground traversed by the machine is uniformly scarified; clods of earth are reduced and uniformly distributed, and the ground is eectually leveled and rolled to present a smoothvand linished surface;

The invention also comprises various features of construction and combinations' of parts which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a planof an apparatus embodying a preferred form of myinvention, one of the side rails of the supporting frame being partly broken away to show parts otherwise concealed. Fig; 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 8 is an end view. Fig. d is a partial plan of one of the breaking and leveling structures; a superposed cap or cover plate for such body being shown Vpartly in section, and a part of the 'supporting frame andthe adjustable connections between 'the same and the structure being indicated. Fig 5 Fig. 4c. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one side of the frame and the adjacent end of the roller, as on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig'. 7 is a plan of one of the breaking and leveling structures, showing a possible position of angular adjustment of the staplelike devices therein- In this view the cover 'sess the requisite weight.

is indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the said devices. Fig. 9 is a plan of one end of the apparatus showing two breaking and leveling structures arranged end to end and bolted to the. side bars of the supporting frame; one of said bars being partly broken away to show the proximate bolt holes of vthe adjacent structure. Fig. 10 is a similar view showingone of the structures fastened at the end of the supporting frame, outwardly beyond the roller. Fig. 11 is a similar view showing two structures arranged end to end outwardly beyond the roller. Fig. 12 is a plan of a portion of the structure showing several narrow staple-like devices inserted into pairs of adjacent holes in the body of the v structure. l

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a rectangular frame structure constructed preferably of'spaced side and end pipe sections 11, 12 respectively, connected by corner-fittings 13; and 111 designates two relatively heavy rollers mounted to rotate onA axles 15 which are supported at thier ends in dependingy brackets 16 bolted to theframe f sides adjacent to the respective ends of the structure. 'The ends of each axle are extended through slots in the hangers and are screw-threaded, as at 17, for the .reception of clamp-nuts 18, which, taking against the lopposing inner and outer sidesv of the respective hangers, secure the axle thereto in a manner to vaugment the strength and rigidity of the structure.

Each of the rollers 111 comprises a hollow metal cylinder provided with end heads 19 which are rigidly connected by a central tube'20, which has a brass bushing at each end for a bearing; the cylinder being-loaded with a heavy mass of material r21, such as concrete, in order that the roller shall pos- The axle 15ex-`v tends freely through the central tube, to

washergto prevent the `escape of the lubricant fromand the entrancev of dust to the axle bearing. Against the open end of thek wear ofv the vcontiguous nut on the axle.

A. scraper 24 contacts with the surface of each roller to keep it clear of adhering clay.

This scraper preferably comprises fa' bar ofv leave sufficient room for a quantity of lubriy yhub is a metal washer, as 23, to receive the i angle-iron hele nthe belts that trame; the acting e propriately gfound t ture ai? the roller. hers Q6 on '2 uf'orking structures which are supported'by the frame. in the present instance there are two oi such structures. Each includes a rectangular body 28, of wood or other suitable material, provided with staggered rows ot transverse pertorations 29 and with end recesses lfliese recesses, ot which in the present instance there are two at each end ot the body, are appropriately formed to receive the lower headed portions of vertically-disposed suspension bolts 3l which, passing up through holes in the adjacent side rails of the trame, are provided at their screw-threaded upper ends with wing nuts 32. @n each of the bolts are disposed below and above the adjacent recessed part ot the body, spacing vf'ashers 33 which afford a simple and edicient means whereby vertical adjustment of the body can be accomplished.

Depending from the body 28 is a gang oi ground breaking and leveling devices each ot which in the present instance comprises the vertical legs 3l oit a staple-shaped inem ber of relatively-thin tempered spring steel, the tree extremities ot such leO's being pointed, as at 3G. The holes in the body are circular and or uniform diameter, and the material comprisingthe said devices is substantially equal lin width to such diameter; the legs being so spaced apart relatively to the spacingot the holes, that such legsmay be inserted through predetermined holes so as to occupy various angul.r positions in relation to the path ot movement oi the apparatus; or in other words, the devices may be set parallel. with the length ot the body so as to present the thin cutting edges of the to the working path as indicated in Fig. 1l, or the devices may be angularly disposed on the body so as to present the taces of the legs diagonally to such path as indicated in Fig. 7. For scratchingand breaking the ground the depending devices are arranged as shown in Fig. el; but for leveling loose ground they are arranged as shown in Fig. 7. The said devices when they are properly applied to the body are firmly held in place bv an iron cap or cover plate 37 which is placed on and secured to the body. The plate is provided with appropriate side and end flanges, the latter having therein suitably-disposed sockets 88 which register with the recesses in the proximate ends ot the body. The bolts 8l,

D through the sockets of the cover, etectually lock the plate upon the body.

By dividing the upper and lower space washers 33 on the bolts 3l, at the respective ends of the structure iust described, such structure can be nicely adjusted vertically so that the breaking and leveling devices thereof will penetrate the ground to any desired eXtent (say, from a sixteenth to three-quarters ot an inch) during the travel of the apparatus. lt any ot such devices should bend or break'or become dull from contact with lirmly embedded stones, it or they can be quickly removed and replaced by new ones; it being merely required to remove the cover-plate, withdraw the detective device or devices, insert a new or repassino` paired device or devices, and then re-apply y the cover-plate. Such replacements will be few, however, because the flexible legs of the devices when they impinge against embedded stones, generally spring sidewise, slip past the same, and resume their normal position. The legs being thin, smooth, flexible and comparatively far apart, clay does not stick to and clog them.

l usually provide a number of devices of narrower width (i. e. with legs closer together) than those above described` which narrower devices are designed to be inserted into pairs ot' adjacent uniilled holes, and thus supplement the larger devices in the performance oit the breaking` and leveling operations as, for example, when the ground is dry enough not to clog the closely set legs. Several ot these supplemental devices are illustrated at 35 in Fig. l2 as applied to one of the breaking and leveling structures. Apart from their narrower width the devices 35 are each identical in form with the device shown in Fig. 8.

l preferably equip the apparatus with two ground-working structures of the character described, either or both of which may be adj sted to operative position in relation to the surface oit the ground, occasion may require.

lr" the devices assembled. in the staggered relation shown in Fig. el., with their thin edges presented to the opposing soil, one structure will elifectually penetrate and tear up a surface of fairly dry earth in a single passage of the machine. .ln that case the other structure will be out ot action. lt, however, owing to the condition of the soil the single structure be iuetlective, both structures may be brought into operation with their respective devices so disposed that the tracks of one set will alternate with those ot the other set and accordingly increase the breaking and tearing etect on the earth. in order that the said structures may be placed end to end across the path ot the apparatus, and thus act upon a wide swath ot2 ground, it desired, l provide each body (and cover plate), midway between its ends with elongated holes 39 which, when the structures are disposed with their abutting ends at the median line of the machine, are in vertical alinement with the adjacent bolt holes in the side bars. The bolts are passed upward through the alining holes of the bodies and' side bars and the fastening nuts applied to the upwardly projecting ends of the bolts; the washers being used on the bolts, as before, for adjusting purposes. The contiguous ends of the structures are fastened together by short bolts 39 passed through the opposed recesses. (See Fig. 9.)

If it be desired to loosen up the surface of the ground without rolling it, the said structures, yeither singly or end to end, may be fastened at the end or ends of the supporting frame, outside of the rollers. For this purpose the end bars and the side bars are provided with suitably-disposed bolt holes 40, 41 respectively, and the body and cap plate of each structure are provided at each end with a suitably-disposed registering recess 42 and. slot 43 respectively. When one of the structures is placed at the end of the frame outwardly beyond the adjacent roller, end recesses of the body of such structure register with the bolt holes 4l and thus the structure can be 4readily positioned and secured to the frame bythe applicationof the bolts and associated space washers. (See Fig. 10.) When the structures are placed end to end, at one end of the frame beyond the roller, the mated recesses 42 and slots 43 of the abutting ends of the two structures register with the respective holes 40 in the end bar of the frame, and one of the elongated holes 39 of each of the structures registers with the hole 4l of the adjacent side bar. (See Fig. 11.) Thus the structures can be readily bolted to the frame and their position in respect to the ground can be easily adjusted by means of the space washers above described.

1f it be desired to use only the rollers both structures may be adjusted to raise the ground-breaking devices from the ground.

,1n rear of the breaking and leveling structures is mounted a finishing brush having fiber, ratan or wire bristles 44, the brush back 45 being adjustably supported by the frame similarly to the bodies as above eX- plained, in order that said brush may be likewise adjusted in vertical relation .to the ground, as desired.

T he machine above described is adapted to be drawn byV one or two men. For this purpose detachable handles 46, with hook eX- tremities, are conveniently provided. r1`hese handles may be hooked over veither end of the frame, or into the holes 4l in the side bars ,of the frame, or over the scraper bar, as the pull or draftof the machine mayv require. Obviously the machine can be drawn either end foremost, and therefore it is unnecessaryto turnlit around after each course of travel across the area of ground being operated upon. p v f The apparatus may be handled with facility to perform effectually the following named steps inthe preparation of the surface, for example, of a clay tennis court, viz: (l) to scarify or scratch up the surface sufficiently to obtain material for an adequate top dressing; (2) to reduce and pulverize such material; (3) to distribute the material uniformly; (4) to level and smooth the surface, and (5) to roll the surface until the requisite hardness thereof is obtained.

Preparatory to the first step of the surfacing operation, one of the breaking and leveling structures is attached to the frame outside of the rollers. 1f it is desirable to scarify a wider area, both structures may be similarlyattached to the frame', end to end,

so as to project outwardly beyond the path 'of the rollers, the structures in either case being adjusted vertically so that the breaking and leveling devices thereof will penetrate the ground uniformly the desired distance,depending upon the evenness of the ground. The machine is drawn the length of the court; then swung a quarter turn and drawn the width of the court; and soV on progressively from end to end and side tov side of the plot until the area is thoroughly scratched. apparatus be too hard for one person with the devices penetrating the ground, say, half an inch, the ground can be gone over twice, l first, with the devices set to penetrate, say,

a quarter ofan inch and, second, with the devices set to penetrate, say, a half inch.

If the pull lor draft of the Preparatory to the second step ofthe sur- Y facing operation the clay is allowedpar'ti- 1.05

ally to dry so that the lumps will be readily friable under the weight of the rollers and theV action of the devices. The structures being mounted betweenthe rollers, and their depending devices vertically adjusted to the desired extent, the apparatus is progressive- .ly drawn along and across the court.

Preparatory to theV third step of the sui'- facing operation the depending devices are positioned so that their flat faces will be inclined, to the path of travel, in which position they will scrape off the high places and fill in the hollows. With the devices thus set the' apparatus is progressively.y drawn along and acrossA the court. By arranging the two structures end to end as previously described, a wide track can be leveled in a single passage of the fmachine. T o accomplish the fourth step of the surfacing operation the devicesare raised yclear of the ground, the finishingbrush is set at the proper level, and the apparatus is drawn along and across the plot. 1

ATo effect the final step of the surfacing operation, the devices and brush are raised above the ground, and the apparatus is weighted, as, for example, with a box of stones, androlled upon the court. The machine is started at one corner of the court and rolled up and downlengthwise, being drawn a little on the bias each trip so that it will cover new ground each time until the entire area has been rolled. The court is then rolled cross-wise in the same manner. The load on the machine is increased and the court rolled as before; and so on the weight is increased and the rolling continued until the requisite hardness of surface has been attained.

It is to be understood that the apparatus above described may be employed for surfacing tennis courts, whether of dirt, clay or gravel, and also that it may be advantageously used wherever large areas of ground are to be leveled and smoothed.

It is also to be understood that the apparatus herein shown and described to exemplify my invention may be structurally modified without departure from-the spirit of the invention.

I claiml. ln an apparatus of the character describe-d, a traveling support, a plurality of structures thereon comprising each a body and ground breaking and leveling devices depending therefrom, and means whereby said structures may be separately attached to said frame, either side by side, or end to end, as desired.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a traveling support, a plurality of structures thereon comprising each a body and ground breakingand leveling devices depending therefrom, and means whereby said structures may be separately attached to said frame, either side by side, or end to end, as desired, said means including devices whereby said structures may be vertically adjusted independently of each other in either of their positions of attachment to the frame.

ln an apparatus of the character described, a frame, rollers at the front and rear thereof, a plurality of ground breaking and leveling structures, and means whereby said structures may be separately attached to said frame, either side by side or end to end, as desired.r

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a traveling support, of a structure thereon comprising a body and blades of thin flat spring mate ial depending from said body, said blades being adjustable edgewise in respect to the cutting path without changing the horizent-al level of the lower extremities of the blades.

5. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a traveling support, of a structure thereon comprising a body having a multiplicity of rows of holes therein in spaced relation to each other and plural legged ground breaking and leveling devices extending downwardly through and below spaced holes of the body.

6. In an apparatus of the character decribed, the combination with a traveling support, of a structure thereon comprising a body having a multiplicity of holes therein and plural legged devices of thin flat spring metal extending downwardly through and below spaced holes of the body.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a traveling support, of a structure thereon comprising a bodv having a multiplicity of holes therein and plural-legged devices of thin fiat spring metal extending downwardly through and below spaced holes of the body, the lower extremities of the legs or blades of said devices being pointed.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a structure thereon comprising a body having a multiplicity of holes therein, plurallegged ground breaking and leveling members extending downwardly through and below spaced holes of the body and a detachable cover-plate for said body, and means for securing said structure to the frame.

9. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a structure thereon comprising a body having a multiplicity of holes therein, plurallegged ground breaking and leveling members extending downwardly through and below spaced holes of the body, and a detachable cover-plate for said body, and means connecting the lbody and the cover plate to the sides of the frame.

l0. ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination with traveling support, of a structure thereon comprising a body having therein a multiplicity of rows of circular holes of uniform diameter, and plural legged devices extending through spaced holes of the body, said devices comprising material substantially equal in width to the diameter of each of the holes.

ll. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame having parallel side bars *ith bolt holes therein in spaced relation to each other, and ground breaking and leveling structures having correspondingly spaced end apertures which register with the bolt holes of the respective side bars when the structures are arranged side by side so as to extend across the frame, said structures also having midway between their ends apertures which register with the bolt holes of the proximate side bars when the structures are arranged end to end, together with securing bolts for application to the said bolt holes and the said apertures in registry therewith,

lill

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame having parallel side bars with bolt holes therein in spaced relation to each other, and ground breaking and leveling structure having spaced end apertures which register With the bolt holes of the respective side bars when the structures are arranged side by side so as to extend across the frame, said structures also having midway betweentheir ends apertures which register With the bolt holes of the proximate side bars When the structures are arranged end to end, together with securing bolts for application to the said bolt holes and the said apertures in registry therewith, and spacing Washers on correspondingly said bolts for vertically adjusting the structures.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame, rollers at the front and rear thereof, va plurality of ground breaking and leveling structures, means for adjustably connecting said structures to the frame, a brush structure, and means for adjustably connecting said brush' ,structure to the frame, whereby the said'structures may be vertically adjusted independently of each other.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 3d day of April7V CHARLES A. ROBINSON Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

